@seedsandstones, @hml: I feel like this wonderful holiday season makes us want babies even more?! It’s especially nice having a sweet little newborn in the family during this time.
AF arrived a few days later than expected this month, shifting my cycle a little bit. I think my body is still adjusting to coming off the pill. Hoping AF shows up closer to the expected date for [name_u]December[/name_u].
[name_f]Glad[/name_f] I’m not the only one. Not in this group, and not [name_m]IRL[/name_m], it turns out - my sister told me yesterday that she’s in the midst of a two-week-wait. One the one hand, I’m exciting to think there might be a niece/nephew coming into the world next [name_u]August[/name_u]…one the other hand, I don’t want to distract in any way from everyone doting on her during her first pregnancy or stretching our family network thin by having two newborns in the family in one season. I dunno if that makes sense to anyone, but there it is!
Eek, so excited to join in the discussion. [name_u]Haven[/name_u]'t read all the previous posts but I did skim…
Not exactly TTC 2018, but as you can see by my sig, DH and I are beginning to take the necessary steps toward adoption for our #2. We will be doing domestic infant adoption (under 4 months). Right now we are deciding between agencies (we have it narrowed to 3, I think) and we hope to do our homestudy and all the necessary paperwork and be in the pool by mid-2018. We plan to TTC our #3 in 2019 if all goes well. We will be done with three I believe.
I had my babe (homebirth) late [name_u]August[/name_u]. I’m EBF, plan to nurse him for 2+ years (he had a tongue and lip tie in the beginning, and I had severe vasospasm/mammary constriction syndrome, so it was tough going but I stuck it out while identifying and working through the problems while I pumped exclusively building up my supply. Everything is now going great and we have just gotten to nursing full-time in the past 3 weeks!!!). I plan on tandem feeding with my adopted little one. Anticipating I may not be able to get pregnant with #3 quite as easily as the last, but so excited for what the future holds for us!
[name_f]Welcome[/name_f] @medfordkung and good luck! Sounds like you’ve got a whirlwind few years ahead of you!
@seedsandstones Your concerns do make sense, but it’s also hard to overstate how nice it is when cousins are close in age, especially if they see each other lots. It’s like an extra sibling right from the very beginning. I’m sure your family would be thrilled!
@hml: Same here! We went to my in-law’s Thanksgiving last weekend and I couldn’t help but think about how much fun and different it would be to have our own little one there (which is saying something, because spending time with my in-laws normally reminds me of how much I long to move to a different state before having kids, LOL) . My youngest [name_m]BIL[/name_m] is nearly 16, so until his cousin had her baby a few weeks ago, he was the last “baby” of the family. It’s time for a new generation, lol.
@bedhead: Yeah, it’s probably still adjusting, but it will get there 
I hope it comes by your anticipated time, too!
@seedsandstones: I wouldn’t think that you would be distracting attention from her, at all. A large number of people seem to adore babies and the excitement that would be there for her family I’m sure would flow equally to you, as well. Plus it is so much fun to have cousins close in age! Like @katinka said, it’s like having another sibling right from the beginning
@medfordkung: [name_m]Hi[/name_m] again! This is…what…the second time we are in a TTC group together? Lol. I hope all goes well with your adoption journey! I didn’t know you could “request” certain age groups! Interesting. We hope to adopt domestically (although DH would prefer to adopt internationally) but not for a few more years…it can be expensive and we are only living in an apartment right now 
but we’d love to go for sibling groups or teenagers. Anyhow, good luck
I’ve kinda been thinking that I can’t wait until late [name_u]December[/name_u]/early [name_u]January[/name_u], when this thread switches from “waiting” to “actively TTC”. [name_m]Even[/name_m] though I’ve already been TTC, it will make all of this feel official, somehow
@seedsandstones: I don’t think you would distract at all. That would be very exciting for the whole family. As others have mentioned, having cousins close in age is lots of fun and very convenient! Hopefully you will join your sis very soon!
@medfordkung: [name_f]Welcome[/name_f] and good luck with the adoption search!
@namergirl3: The anticipation is very real at this point!
Well… I’m officially in the frantically-compiling-baby-name-lists stage of getting ready to TTC haha. I can’t believe it’s [name_u]December[/name_u] tomorrow! Unfortunately, I’m not any closer to my weight loss goals :(. But, I started a Whole30 on [name_f]Monday[/name_f], and have my meals planned up until we leave for [name_f]Florida[/name_f] later this month. I have already cheated a little (dang you chocolate chips!), but I’m hoping to stick to it as much as possible until we leave. And I’ve been to the gym twice this week and hope to go at least two more times. At this point, I’d love to lose as much weight as I can (healthily, if that’s a word!), but it feels super pointless to lose it all and TTA until then, and then get pregnant and gain it back. So I think my plan is just to work on losing weight, see what happens, and be in good exercise/dietary habits so I can try not to gain as much with #2. So I think we’ll just stick with TTW for a few months. I still don’t even have my cycle back, so I’m not too worried about anything. It’s weird to think that this time two years ago I was pretty much in exactly the same boat! That time I got pregnant about two weeks from now haha. I’m ok with it not happening that fast this time around!
Thanks for the welcome.
I definitely agree that having cousins close in age can be amazing! I’m an only child, but my closest cousin is just 19 months older than me, and he is definitely the closest I have to a brother. Unfortunately my cousins don’t plan on having kids… and my husband’s sister is DEFINITELY not having kids, so our babies will be lucky if they have some distant cousins in the future, as my husband’s 10 cousins are not yet having babies.
@alyssa, indeed. I was in a pre-TTC thread for quite a while, but I briefly popped into the TTC 2017 group at the end of last year. Never made it to 2017 as we started TTC this time last year and got lucky. I hope it’s not too discouraging to see me pop round again. It will be quite a joyous occasion when we see you graduate!
@shalexis, that’s a healthy perspective on moving forward with your health goals. I have just begun trying to lose weight this past week (12 weeks pp). I hope to be able to lose my baby weight in the next 12 months, about half a pound a week… any tips, anyone? I lost 30 pounds in 2012 and maintained until TTC. I have the same 30 pounds to lose now, but I’m nervous as my lifestyle is so different now and I can’t see myself exercising and eating quite like I did when I lost it the first time.
@shalexis: Losing weight can be so hard, so don’t feel bad! [name_m]Even[/name_m] just eating healthier foods (and less “bad” ones) can help you get to a healthier state good luck with it all!
@medfordkung: Oh yeah, I’d forgotten the exact timing lol. It isn’t discouraging at all to see you back again I’m happy for you, having your son, and it’s so exciting that you guys will be adding another little one soon!
This sort of is TTC-related, but we found out that our offer was accepted on a house! We will likely move in [name_u]January[/name_u]. Now we finally will have a safer environment, with plenty of room to raise our babies in! Now I will get to plan out a baby room 
[name_m]Hi[/name_m] everyone! Sorry, we have had lots going on and I haven’t had a chance to catch up on the thread. I wanted to pop in to recount the baby conversation had by me and my not-quite-two-year-old last night.
Me: [name_f]Do[/name_f] you want a baby brother or sister?
[name_f]Ro[/name_f]: [name_u]Baby[/name_u] mummy tummy?
Me: No baby there yet, maybe soon.
[name_f]Ro[/name_f]: [name_f]SANTA[/name_f] baby mummy tummy!
So apparently [name_f]Santa[/name_f]'s giving mummy a baby in her tummy for [name_u]Christmas[/name_u]. XD My husband will probably have a thing or two to say about that. Maybe it’s her (relatively) good sleep week talking, but I’ve been feeling a lot more confident about TTC lately! [name_f]Ro[/name_f] seems to have grown up a lot these last few weeks and has been more independent again, and I keep imagining having her and a newborn without it being overwhelmingly crazy.
I’ve also been hunting names. We pretty much had [name_f]Rosie[/name_f]'s set when we found out we were pregnant and we can’t decide on anything for a second child. Anyone else having name troubles? I’m not the sort who could wait to meet the baby to decide, it would drive me insane! I’d love to have some names ready before TTC but it’s just not happening.
Hey my lovely ladies,
[name_m]How[/name_m] is everyone?? [name_f]Hope[/name_f] you’re all well and happy.
I honestly don’t know what I am at the moment… I feel an odd muddle of emotions.
Hubby dropped a sly “we could totally try in the next six months… if we wanted to” comment in the car today. My internal reaction was “but we’re not!”
But on every other day, I feel like my heart/brain is going “you know… it wouldn’t be that bad…”
#sigh
We are a couple of months off replacing the car, and about six - eight months off finishing our current study. and I know he wants those done pre-baby, so I guess that gives me a little breathing space.
I recently found a Masters program that sounds amazing, and I really want to look into… but not sure if he’ll like postponing babies for the two years it will take to complete. Another conversation to brooch , I guess…
Also, I feel a bit annoyed that I can’t find decent work in my field where we currently live. I thinks that’s part of my motivation for wanting to do the Masters - getting my head and heart back into what I love.
I also want to talk to my hubs about going off birth control for a bit, coz I’m so tired of what it’s doing to my emotions and weight gain. I just don’t know how to word it… I don’t want it to come off as “no sex for you for 3 months” or “my emotional health is more important than yours”… I just, yeah… it’s stressing me a bit…
Anyway, that’s enough of my blaaahh. Thanks for listening.
[name_u]Love[/name_u] and baby dust to all. Xxx
Joining this thread because we’ve been trying for two months and next cycle will bring us into the new year (already!!) See some familiar faces here, hey y’all!
@namergirl13 CONGRATS on the house! So exciting to have a new home. I’m sure you’ll have a busy few months ahead. I feel like the “to do” lists when moving into a new home are never ending!
[name_f]Welcome[/name_f] @meyera4!
@northernlights, I’m also hunting for names these days. We had a short list ready before I was pregnant last time and I was so relieved when we found out we were having a girl. However, both of us felt that none of the names on the list were right for the baby and ended up starting from scratch. She was nameless for two days before we finally decided. I hope that next time we’ll have a name ready well before the birth!
and hi @meyera! We were in TTC #16 together! (or was it '15? Time is going by so fast I really can’t remember!). So nice to “see” you again
@namergirl3: Congrats, that is huge news!
@mummacat92: I stopped taking my BC pill 3 months ago. I think it was making me highly irritable and I also noticed I put on a couple pounds because of it. We have just avoided the fertile week and so far, so good. I’m totally comfortable with not going on any hormonal BC ever again.
[name_f]Welcome[/name_f][b] @meyera4!
[/b]
I know it’s way too early but we have an almost 8 month old pup and I recently started playing sounds of babies crying to get him used to it and it’s pretty funny. Very interested to see how he would be with a baby in the house. Anyone else have pets? [name_m]How[/name_m] did they adjust to baby or how do you think they’ll do with a baby?
@meyera: Hey!! I remember seeing you around the forums before welcome to the group!
@hml: Thank you!!! Yes, it will be very busy for these next few months. While I’m thrilled to be moving into the house, the idea of actually move makes me super tired lol. I’ve never liked packing up, moving, and unpacking. It’ll be worth it, though
@bedhead: Thank you! And about pets…we have a 2-year-old cat and I’m really interested to see how she would react to a baby. We’ve of course watched movies or videos with kids in them and she acts very disinterested by the sounds. However, our friends have 2 toddlers and the cat hates when they visit. She will get really irritable and will hide. I think it is because they are just super loud and get into her toys. I hope that she will be better once we have our own kids. I don’t want to have to get rid of her 
maybe she will adjust since it would be a “forced” situation…it isn’t like the baby would be here for a couple of hours, then go away for a month or so until “visiting” again. I do know that it doesn’t always work out, though. My parents had a 1-year-old husky when I was born and they had to rehome it because it tried to attack me, when I was a week or so old and just laying in a bouncer. Ugh.
medfordkung, welcome, and best of luck with the adoption process. I’d love to hear as much about this as you’re comfortable sharing. We’re taking a “one at a time” approach to growing our family but I’d like to adopt if we do decide we want more than two kids. We haven’t begun the process yet, partly because a third child is hypothetical at this point, and partly because we don’t know where to start.
katinka, namergirl3, and bedhead, thanks for bolstering my confidence and reminding me of the buddy potential between close-in-age cousins. We’ll have to wait and see if it’s meant to be.
shalexis, is [name_f]Marceline[/name_f] still a top choice? I love [name_f]Marceline[/name_f] and [name_u]Juniper[/name_u]!
namergirl3, congratulations on your house! That is super-duper exciting and definitely TTC-related. Enjoy settling in in the [name_m]New[/name_m] Year, and good idea to plan your babe’s room ahead of time. We’re still working on our son’s room, fourteen months late!
northernlights, our son suddenly started sleeping through the night a few weeks ago. Oh my, just like that having another baby seemed infinitely more doable! I was all set to move up our TTC timeline. Then, TEETHING struck again! He was up until midnight last night, up again at five, and pretty miserable all day, chewing on everything. I hope you continue to sleep well, and how sweet that [name_f]Ro[/name_f]’s excited by the prospect of a baby sibling!
mummacat92, it’s all too normal, when pre-TTC, to vacillate about one’s readiness on an almost daily basis! I wish I had any advice for you concerning your studies. I hope you and your partner have a good conversation about your academic and family-growing goals. I imagined it would be a lot easier than it actually is to return to school after having kids. If it’s something that’s really important to you (or if you need the advanced degree to provide for your family), it’s worth prioritizing it – two years can fly by, and there’s nothing to stop you from getting pregnant in the second year of your program so you can have your baby right after graduation. Sounds like fun, right? Also – finding the right birth control method is an ongoing process, and what works for one woman/one couple can change with time. I’m sure your husband will be happy to talk with you about all the options out there until you find the one that’s best for you.
[name_f]Welcome[/name_f], meyera4! I love your kids’ names and the other names in your sig, particularly [name_f]Zelda[/name_f], [name_f]Frida[/name_f], [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f], [name_m]Frederick[/name_m], [name_u]Arlo[/name_u], and [name_m]Oskar[/name_m]!
bedhead, it’s not too early at all to prepare your pup for a baby! We learned that our rescue dog is nervous around young kids about halfway through my pregnancy. He’s a sweet, sweet “velcro” dog who loooves human company but doesn’t know what to make of kids ages 2-4. They’re so quick and unpredictable, and even the nicest preschooler struggles with how to behave around animals (ahem, tailgrabbing). So far, our dog has been perfect with our kid, but he still prefers for unknown little ones to be seated or in an adult’s arms. We take him to training once a week and closely monitor kid and dog when they’re together. There’s a crate in our bedroom and that’s the dog’s “safe place” – he goes there to nap, to chew a bone, or to get space from the kids during play-dates. I also recommend getting your stroller ahead of time and taking it out for walks with your dog. It took me months to figure out how to walk the dog and push the stroller at the same time, and my dog was pulling at his leash trying to get out in front of the stroller for much of that! No fun. It is incredibly sweet to watch our dog and boy starting to bond now.
namergirl3, we have a sixteen-year-old cat who is pretty shy. Our 14-month-old is completely infatuated with her but obviously does not have the awareness to pet gently, not touch her face or tail, etc. We make sure she can escape to a toddler-free room whenever she needs to (a baby gate is all it takes), and we’re constantly working on R’s manners when they hang out. His new favorite thing to do is turn on the bathtub faucet (ahhh!), and the cat loves to drink from the faucet, so when we’re in the bathroom, she comes running. I do think it’s easier for an animal to adjust to someone they see every day, and a newborn who grows into a toddler is a far cry from two toddlers who burst into the house now and then to mess up her toys! Best of luck, and try not to worry without knowing there will even be a problem yet (easier said than done, I know).
@seedsandstones
[name_f]Marceline[/name_f] is probably still our #1 girl name! I’ve also been liking [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] lately, but it isn’t my husband’s favorite. This week I’m liking [name_u]Asa[/name_u] for a boy, but not sure if I’ll stick with that.
@seedsandstones: Thanks for sharing! That is so great that they’re really getting along together. I hope ours will do fine in the future. I can’t imagine walking our pup with a stroller right now. He’s overly excited and still struggles with pulling. Sometimes when we go to dog parks there are small children and he seems pretty aloof to them, pays them no attention. Except if they throw him a ball, he’ll go and fetch it and do that for a while.
I am just gonna pop in and introduce myself. (Hello to TTC 2017 Ladies) I am currently in my final full TWW of 2017 and while I am fully hoping I won’t be officially joining this thread for 2018, I am not feeling overly confident about this cycle. I have been off the pill since [name_f]September[/name_f] and we are on our third cycle of trying, but due to my fiancé’s schedule of working away, this month has been our best timing so far. I am 28 years old and we are trying for our very first!
I am also a bit concerned about my pets transition to having a baby in the house. My dog is 2 and the biggest sweetheart, but she is very anxious and terrified of children. She has never ever gotten aggressive with a child or lashed out, but she is nervous and cowers/hides when they approach her. I am really hoping just having a baby in the house will let her adjust to our baby. For now I am having supervised visits between my niece/my neighbours child and my dog to get her used to having a child toddling around. And we will definitely need to practice with stroller walking ”